Obesity In Cats - Is Your Cat Overweight?

Sometimes you will hear people say, "He’s just a little chubby," or "He really doesn’t eat that much … and besides, he’s cute!" Yes, he is a cutie, but is he overweight?

We sit down to eat ... and there they are those big cute begging eyes! I am sure you may think a little bit of this and a little bit of that won’t hurt him. But do you really know what table food does to your cat? Combining table food, treats and lack of exercise are all factors in making your cat fat, which can cause health problems.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to the health of a cat. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain.  You can read their views on Overweight Cats.

Cats and Carbohydrates
Did you know that cats, unlike most mammals, do not have a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme called amylase in their saliva? Humans and dogs do, and begin the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth. In our intestines, amylase secreted from the pancreas breaks down large carbohydrate molecules into absorbable smaller units of glucose.

Cats generally have less amylase activity than humans or dogs. For this reason it is very important that you do not give your cat certain human foods! Cats need the nutrients specifically provided for them in good, premium cat foods, and any "extras" that they consume will take away their appetites for their regular meals.

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Pit Bulls – Do They Make Good Pets?

Pit bull is a term commonly used to describe several breeds of dog in the molosser breed group. Most jurisdictions that restrict pit bulls, use the term "pit bull" to refer to the modern American Pit Bull Terrier, American  Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any other dog that has the substantial physical characteristics and appearance of those breeds.

Media hysteria and bad owners have greatly damaged this breed, and every incident involving a pit bull makes it worse for the entire breed and their owners, often prompting breed specific legislation or breed bans.

The pit bull is typically a people loving, intelligent and fun breed. Due to their affinity with people, this breed is a good candidate for rescue and adoption, but potential homes need to be carefully screened to insure that the new owners understand and accept the responsibility of owning a pit bull.  This is not a breed for everyone! The only way to repair the pit bull's bad reputation is to keep them in the hands of responsible owners.

Animal shelters in the United States euthanized approximately 1.7 million dogs in 2008; approximately 980,000, or 58 percent of these were assessed to have been pit bull-type dogs.

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Do Dogs Cry?

We know our dogs have feelings, and we’ve all caught our pet looking particularly forlorn, wearing a plaintive stare and glassy eyes. What else to think, but our dog is crying! Is she really, though? Do dogs cry like we do?

While dogs can feel sadness and grief, they don’t actually cry in the same way humans do. In other words, their sad feelings don’t prompt a flow of tears. Humans, in fact, are the only animals on the planet to shed tears as a result of their emotional state.

But we can unpack this larger question into several others. Can dogs shed tears at all? Do dogs cry in some other way? And if they can’t cry, are we imagining other dog emotions?

Do Dogs Cry? Not if Their Eyes Are Healthy

Dogs do have tear ducts, of course. These function to keep the eyes comfortable and clear of debris, and they drain back into the nasal cavity rather than dripping from the eye. This means something may be amiss if your dog is leaking tears. In dogs, tears could be caused by:

To read more on this story, click here: Do Dogs Cry?

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Vision Loss in Senior Dogs — Symptoms and Management

Just as our eyesight can become impaired as we age, dogs can also suffer from vision loss as they enter their senior years. However, unlike humans, dogs do not rely on vision as their most important sense. Their noses and ears allow them to adapt quite well to changes in their eyesight. Here are the signs of potential vision impairment and some steps you can take to help your senior dog cope with any loss of sight.

Vision Loss: Causes and Symptoms
There are many causes of vision loss in older dogs, including glaucoma and macular degeneration.

One of the more probable causes is a cataract, when the lens of the eye is clouded over. A cataract will appear as a hazy, opaque white growth over the eye and often goes hand-in-hand with other illnesses, such as diabetes.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) can cause a multitude of ocular problems, such as retinal detachment, which could lead to blindness. Untreated infections, chronic dry eye, and tumors or cancer can also cause blindness. It’s vital for your elderly dog to have regular visits (at least every 6-to-9 months) with his veterinarian, as the sooner the condition is detected and diagnosed, the better the possible outcome.

Signs that your dog is losing his eyesight can be quite obvious. He might bump into walls or furniture or have trouble locating his food or toys. He might stop making eye contact with you. The signs can also be subtler, such as being reluctant to jump on or off the couch, a new level of anxiety, or becoming clingy. Your dog may even begin to show aggression because his vision loss may leave him feeling vulnerable and more inclined to act offensively in an attempt to keep himself safe.

To read more on this story, click here: Vision Loss in Senior Dogs — Symptoms and Management

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Weird New Trend Puts Live Ants Inside Nail Tips

Bizarre beauty trends are hardly a new thing - we've seen everything from nose hair extensions to 'halo eyebrows' and let's not forget some women's ongoing obsessions with developing a deep fake tan - that makes them look like a 'mahogany table', apparently.

Although they make look a little bit silly, until now they've pretty much been harmless. I mean, yeah, going green overnight might not be your cup of tea, but each to their own and all that.

However, one new nail 'trend' has got people seriously pissed off, with many branding it 'cruel' and 'disgusting' for its use of live ants entombed inside some acrylic to create a bit of nail art.

The weird design was shared online by Nail Sunny in Moscow, and showed the ants being placed inside hollow, clear acrylic nail tips. Despite the post stating that no ants were harmed in the making of the nails, the whole thing was quickly slammed by Instagram users.

One wrote: "This is absolutely disgusting, you should be ashamed of yourself. Any nail technicians I know would NEVER dream of doing anything as ridiculous as this. The poor ants suffer for no reason, the nails look horrid!"

To read more on this story, click here: Weird New Trend Puts Live Ants Inside Nail Tips

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NYPD Police Precinct’s Mascot, A Tabby Cat Named Martin, Was Killed By Car

The adorable orphaned tabby cat that served as mascot and morale booster for cops at Coney Island’s 60th Precinct was struck by a car and killed, cops said Monday. He was 2 years old.

“Sad to announce our Precinct cat Martin has passed away. He was hit by a car and later died due to his injuries. He will truly be missed by all in the command. RIP Marty,” Deputy Inspector Joseph Hayward wrote on Twitter.

A DCPI spokeswoman told the Post the cat was discovered to have been hit by a car on Saturday morning, after he was “heard meowing in distress outside of the precinct back door.” Police did not know how or where Marty was struck. He was taken to a local animal clinic, where he died.

The lovable feline was dropped off by a woman at the station house on West Eighth Street and Surf Avenue in late 2016.

Cops lobbied for the cat to become a permanent resident. He soon softened the hearts of even the toughest officers — snuggling with them and munching on scraps of turkey.

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How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog? Groomers Weigh In

For a lot of new dog owners, it can be difficult to determine how often you should wash your dog. The truth is, the answer depends on a lot of things.

“How frequently a pet needs a bath greatly varies based upon their breed, lifestyle, length of coat, and how much homework a pet owner is willing to do,” says Beth Cristiano, owner of Pretty Paws LLC, headquartered in Harrison, N.Y.

The type of coat your dog has is a big factor in how often he requires baths. However, it’s not as simple as the shorter the hair, the less bathing required. Hairless breeds, such as the Chinese Crested and the Xoloitzcuintli, are actually quite care intensive, according to Cristiano, who says these breeds require weekly baths.

At the other end of the spectrum are the long-coated breeds, such as the Maltese and the Collie. “Obviously, the more hair a dog has, the more work is involved, including the frequency of the bath,” says Jorge Bendersky, a celebrity dog groomer, pet expert, and best-selling author of “DIY Dog Grooming, From Puppy Cuts to Best in Show: Everything You Need to Know.” He adds, “For dogs with medium-to-large coats, a bath could be needed from weekly to every 4-to-6 weeks, as long as the coat is properly maintained in-between baths.”

To read more on this story, click here: How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog? Groomers Weigh In

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Smithsonian's National Zoo: We Are Building A Naked Mole-Rat Exhibit

If you've ever been to the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Small Mammal House, you’ve probably seen the naked mole-rats—those small, nearly hairless rodents running through a series of tubes and chambers. These funky Zoo favorites are ready for a home renovation. 

Because of your generosity, we're getting a new exhibit: a corner habitat with more realistic tunnels where guests can see the mole-rats up close and peek at a keeper area behind them, along with a webcam so online viewers can watch the naked mole-rats anytime, anywhere!

We would like to extend a special thank you to the following donors who made this exhibit possible.

To read more on this story, click here: Smithsonian's National Zoo: We Are Building A Naked Mole-Rat Exhibit

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